As Iranian missiles slammed into several Israeli cities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu found himself at the center of a different kind of storm—not for a military decision, but for a personal comment.
Speaking outside Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva, damaged in the Iranian missile strikes, Netanyahu invoked the WWII Blitz to describe Israel’s current conflict.
“We are going through a Blitz,” he said, urging Israelis to remain resilient as the war drags on.
Controversial Wedding Remark Triggers Public Outcry
However, what sparked widespread backlash was Netanyahu’s follow-up comment about postponing his son Avner’s wedding for the second time.
“There are people who were killed, families who grieved loved ones, I appreciate that,” Netanyahu said. “Each of us bears a personal cost, and my family has not been exempt.”
He added that the delay deeply affected both Avner’s fiancée and his wife, Sara, calling her “a hero” for handling the disappointment.
Critics Call Comment ‘Insensitive’ Amid National Tragedy
Netanyahu’s remarks drew fierce criticism from citizens and commentators alike, with many calling it deeply inappropriate to highlight a wedding postponement while families mourn loved ones.
The Prime Minister’s comments came shortly after Soroka Medical Center sustained significant damage. Iranian missiles hit multiple hospital departments, including the ophthalmology wing, intensifying the pressure on an already overwhelmed facility.
In the aftermath of the attacks, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz directly blamed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“The Israeli military has been instructed and knows that to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist,” said Katz.
